Re-Post: "Back to Peace" from Rapture Alert

Back to Peace
by Michael G. Mickey
(2-11-06)

Ever notice how quickly things change in these end times? Prior to the recent Palestinian elections taking place and terrorist organization Hamas winning a major victory, everyone was hopeful that peace was going to come to the Middle East in the not-too-distant future. What has followed since has been a series of setbacks, grumblings, threats, accusations and counteraccusations that have, as odd as it has been to watch unfold, led us right back to where we were before the January 25th Palestinian elections took place - back to talk of Middle East peace.
As I've pointed out on many occasions, the international community is convinced that the only way we're going to win the war on terrorism is when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a thing of the past. An AlterNet article by Stephen Van Evera entitled "U.S. National Security Requires Mideast Peace" demonstrates this to be true in the minds of many, stating the following in part:
In fact, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict now poses a major threat to U.S. national security. It does this by easing al-Qaeda's recruiting efforts, helping al-Qaeda terrorists to find friendly haven in Arab and Islamic societies, and making Arabs and non-Arab Muslims less willing to cooperate with U.S. efforts to destroy al-Qaeda networks. Accordingly, the U.S. should treat the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a serious menace to America's safety and move forcefully to end it.
Is it any wonder, in light of the mindset the international community collectively has toward the Middle East peace process, that Hamas, in contrast to what it was saying immediately upon winning the Palestinian elections, now seems prepared to change its stripes somewhat, offering to talk peace with its archenemy Israel, as seen in a BBC article which states that the political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has said the terrorist group is willing to take a 'serious step' towards peace if Israel does the same? Additionally, we are told in a Yahoo News article, "Hamas could agree to a "long-term truce" with Israel only if it is willing to return to the 1967 borders and recognise the rights of Palestinians to self-determination." I wonder how long a "long-term truce" would be? Seven years? Time will tell.
Two days before the BBC and Yahoo News articles linked above broke, my eye was caught by an EUBusiness.com article, which I immediately bookmarked for future reference. Its headline read: "EU will talk with Hamas 'in six months': radical leader." What was going on behind the scenes, I wondered, leading Hamas to think the EU would be chatty with them so soon given their post-election anti-Israel rhetoric, aside from the fact EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was rumored to have held secret talks with Hamas in November of 2004, which he initially admitted to, but later recanted somewhat.
Interestingly, Solana, as seen in a current EUBusiness.com article, is going to be off to the Middle East next week where he will be making a five-stop Middle East trip "seeking to repair ties strained by the recent Prophet Mohammed cartoon row", among other things. At the end of Solana's visit, according to the article, "he will meet Palestinian Authority head Mahmud Abbas in the Palestinian territories, before travelling to Israel for talks with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. As well as the cartoons row, Solana will talk with Abbas and Livni about the Middle East peace process, clouded by the victory of militant group Hamas in Palestinian elections, as well as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's incapacitation."
The prophet Daniel tells us, as seen in Daniel 9:26-27, a leader of Roman descent is going to confirm a covenant of peace in the Middle East seven precise years in length "with many." This covenant, which will be preceded by the Rapture of the Church, will mark the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation Period, as well as catapault the leader of Roman descent who will somehow "confirm" it, the Antichrist, toward becoming the most powerful dictator the world has ever known.
Am I implying Javier Solana is the prophesied Antichrist in the making? To be certain, I am not. The identity of the Antichrist is veiled in secrecy and will remain so until the time of his advent, as predestined in God's prophetic plan, which could take place a week from now, a year from now, or a decade or more from now! What I am strongly implying, however, is the revived Roman empire of Bible prophecy the Antichrist will someday lead, the European Union, is in a prime position, based on a number of factors, to play a prominent role in Middle East peacemaking, ironically at a moment in history when terrorist organization Hamas may be ready to abide by a long-term truce with archenemy Israel, given certain concessions are made by Israel - concessions I'm hard-pressed to believe the present Israeli government, under the leadership of acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, will be unwilling to make in light of recent events.
What's next? I have no idea, but I'll be watching developments in the troubled Middle East closely and passing my observations along as we continue, in accordance with Titus 2:13, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ!Keep looking up, saints! Jesus Christ is Lord and He is coming soon!